Tubular fountain pen stands



May 17, 1966 HANs-ULRlcH wEsENBERG 3,251,343

TUBULAR FOUNTAIN PEN STANDS Filed March 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Illy y, @d VU May 17, 1966 HANS-ULRICH wEsENBERG 3,251,343

TUBULAR FOUNTAIN PEN STANDS Filed March 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 {59 37 I rw F I6. 5 F /6`. 6

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INVENTOR. flans Zllric wesen be r9 United States Patent O 6 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-7.5)

This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending applications Serial No. 847,433 filed October 19, 1959 and entitled Tubular Fountain Pen Stands and Serial No. 74,660 filed December 8, 1960 and entitled Tubular Foun- -tain Pen Stands both applications now abandoned.

Heretofore, fountain pen stands that were convertible from fountain pen caps were constructed either with a complicated collapsible tripod or similar -imsy understructure which was often difficult to extend without breaking ones finger nails and which could also be easily bent so as to render the stand unstable or they had an attaching device which had to be attached to a suitably anchored and specially constructed auxiliary element which formed no part of the pen cap and could not be readily carried onl the person when the cap of the fountain pen was not being used as a stand. In applicants invention the inherent disadvantages of the prior art devices have been avoided.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fountain pen stand that is easily converted from a fountain pen cap.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a fountain pen stand that can be securely supported by'ordinary writing equipment, such as pencil cases, blotters and the like. Book covers, wrappers, les, setsquares, table tops and similar articles can also serve as a means for securely supporting the fountain pen stand of the present invention.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fountain pen stand that requires no complicated collapsible extensions to provide a support therefor.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a fountain pen stand that has few moving parts and that is simple to convert from a fountain pen cap.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a fountain pen stand that is always readily available when the fountain pen is to be used.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a fountain pen stand that is inexpensiveand easy to manufacture.

With these objects in view, the invention includes a fountain pen cap having a first member and a second member, the first member being movable with respect to the second member, substantially in the longitudinal direction of the cap, the members defining between themselves a gap of variable width. One of the members is resiliently biased in a direction so as to appose increase of the size of the gap and to clamp an object received in the gap between the members. In all except one of the embodiments disclosed herein, the biasing is effected by a separate resilient means such as a compression spring or a leaf spring. In one of the embodiments the natural resilience of the springy metal or like material of which at least one of the members is formed provides the desired biasing action.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific 3,251,343 Patented May 17,` 1966 "ice embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l shows an elevational view of one embodiment of the fountain pen stand partially in section;

IFIG. 2 is another elevational view of the stand illustrated in FIG. l rotated clockwise through an angle of FIG. 3 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the fountain pen stand shown partialy in section;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view partially in section of still another embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG, 5 shows an elevational view partially in section of yet another modification of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of yet another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fountain pen stand secured to the cover of a writing pad.

Referring to FIG. l there is shown one embodiment of a fountain pen cap that is convertible -to a fountain pen stand in which there is provided a clamp formed by a base member such as the flat head portion 1 of a fountain pen cover and an auxiliary member such as the extension 2 extending substantialy at right angles from a pen clip 3 over and substantially parallel to the head portion 1. The hook shaped clip 3 is rigidly connected to a cylindrical guide sleeve 6 by a connecting` piece 9. Although the clip 3 is shown in FIG. l to be integral with the sleeve 6, it may, however, be secured thereto by welding or any other means.

The fountain pen cover is formed of a short openended cylindrical tube 5 having a first wall portion 5 with an inner vdiameter smaller than the outer diameter of the guide sleeve 5 and a second Wall portion `5 with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the guide sleeve 6 so that ythe guide sleeve 6 can be slidingly received and guided in the second wall portion 5" of the tube 5. A short longitudinally extending slot 8 is provided at one end ofthe tube 5 in th'e second wall portion 5" thereof. The slot 8 is wide enough to slidingly guide the connecting piece 9 which extends between the guide sleeve 6 and the clip 3. To permit the assembly of the fountain pen cap, the guide sleeve 6 is inserted into the tube 5 before the head portion 1 is secured to the tube, with a compression spring 4 loosely positioned between the upper face of a cover 7 enclosing one endof the guide sleeve 6 and the lower face of the clip extension 2. The head portion 1 is then inserted into the end of the tube 5 between the clip extension 2 and the spring 4 and is heat sealed, welded or in any other known manner firmly secured to the Wall of the tube 5 so that the guide sleeve and consequently, the clip' is biased by the action of the spring 4 downwardly toward the inoperative position illustrated in FIG. l.

In FIG. l, the guide sleeve 6 and consequently the clip 3 are shown as being automatically held by means of the spring 4 in a position in which the extension 2 of the clip is in close engagement with the upper face of the head portion 1 of the fountain pen cover. The clip 3 in the position shown in FIG. l can therefore only be shifted in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cover in relation to the head portion 1 and in the direction of the arrow against the resistance offered by the spring 4 until the guide sleeve is in its extreme upper position and the extension 2 is spa'ced from the upper face of the head portion 1 of the fountain pen cover. .In that position then the fountain pen cap can be turned about so that the open end of the tube 5 faces in an upward direction as shown in FIG. 7 and a suitable object can be inserted between the extension 2 and the head portion 1 so as to suitably hold and support the fountain pen stand. Turning of the clip 3 about the longitudinal axis of the cap is prevented by 9 the connecting piece 9 extending between the guide sleeve 6 and the clip 3 and sliding in the slot 8 formed in the tube 5.

FIG. 2 shows the fountain pen cap embodiment that is illustrated in FIG. l, turned through an angle of 90 clockwise about its longitudinal axis. As is seen, the clip extension 2 at the top of the figure forms a plate which rests on the head portion 1 of the cover. The clip in this view completely covers the slot 8 in the tube 5 within which the connecting piece 9 between the guide sleeve 6 and the clip 3 slides.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 is substantially similar to that of FIGS. l and 2, except that the cap head portion Il which is secured to the tube is substantially triangular in cross-section and provid-es a sloping rather than a horizontal surface. The upper clamping arm 12, which extends from the clip 13 is parallel to the end face of the cap head portion 11 so that the cap after being suitably anchored by the biasing action of the spring 14 between the head portion 11 and the guide sleeve 16, upon the insertion of a suitable object between the clamping arm 12 and the head portion 11, is inclined in relation to a writing surface when in use.

In the construction shown in FIG. 4 the guiding mechanism for the rigid hook-shaped clip 23 is somewhat modied over those shown. in the preceding figures. The clip 23 is permanently connected with along narrow blade or leaf spring 2.4- which slides in a shallow recess 26 in the wall of the fountain pen cap. By its natural resiliency this spring presses a wide part 2i) of the connecting piece 29 between the clip 23 and the leaf spring 24 tightly against the outer wall of the cap tube 25. The connecting piece 29 is also formed with a narrow part 27, which slides in a slot 28 in the cap tube 25. If the clip 23 is move-d in the direction of the arrow, the upper end of the leaf spring as shown in FIG. 4 slides upwardly on the inner side of the cap head portion 21. In doing so the end of the leaf spring 2d bends so as to bias the clip 23 backwardly in the opposite direction of the arrow shown in this figure so that the plate-shaped clip extension 22 at the top of the ligure bears against the cap head portion 21 because of the spring action.

FIG. 5 shows yet another modification of the present invention, in which the clip 33 is hollow. A rod 30, which is firmly yet detachably connected with the cap tube 35 by means of the holder ring 38 slides in the hollow of the clip 33. The holder ring 38 which has a connecting piece 39 connecting with the rod 30, is screwed or press-litted between the cap tube 35 and a cap head 36 which hasan inclined head portion 31. In the lower portion of the hollow in the clip 33 a spring 34 is provided which biases the clip 33 into the position shown in the figure which is the inoperative position of the fountain pen stand. A slot 37 is provided in the clip 33 within which the connecting piece 39 is slidably received. When the clip is shifted in the direction of the arrow, until the connecting piece 39'abuts the lower edge of the slot 37 so that further movement of the clip in that direction is prevented, then the clip is in its operative position. In the latter position the spring 34 is fully compressed and the stand is in position for clamping a supporting object between the clip extension 32 and the head portion 31.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, there is provided a plate-like clamping member 42 having a rod-like extension 40 that is slidably received in a slot 4'7 formed in a securing ring 48 of the clip 43 so that the clamping plate 42 is movable toward and away from the end face 41 of the head portion of the fountain pen tube 45. Movement of the plate member 42 away from the face 41 is limited by a right angle bend 44 at the free end of the extension ttl which provides a stop when it abuts against the ring 48 of the clip 43. When clamping an object, the plate 42 and extension 4i) are moved substantially to the position shown by the dotted line, When one or several pencils or the like are forced between the plate 42 and the face il of the tube 45, the natural resilience of the springy material such as spring steel and the like of which the plate 4Z and the extension 4G are formed provide a biasing force which acts in cooperation with the restraint imposed by the abutment of the bend 44 against the ring 4S to bring the pencils or the like to bear frictionally against the face 41 thereby ensuring that the cap is held reliably in position for use as a fountain pen stand or holder.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 7, a fountain pen cap constructed in accordance with the present invention is fixed onto the cover 5l? of a writing pad 5l. Securing the fountain pen cap to an object such as that illustrated so as to convert the cap to a fountain pen stand or holder can be effected very quickly because it is only necessary to actuate the plate member of the cap in the direction of the arrows indicated in FIGS. l, 3, 4 and 5, and to introduce the cover 5u of an article of stationery, for example, the writing pad 51 illustrated in FIG. 7, between the` clamping members. Of course, every writing desk or table offers dilferent objects which can be utilized for supporting or securing the fountain pen stand. The fountain pen cap clamps absolutely firmly even on thin cardboard because both arms of the clamp are constructed with flat faces. The clamp, therefore, grips a relatively large portion of the article t-o which it is secured and holds firmly. The strong spring in the fountain pen cap of various of the embodiments illustrated increases this clamping force and also prevents the clip from moving at inappropriate times, for example, when the fountain pen is being used merely as a fountain pen cap and is clipped onto the jacket pocket of the user.

scribed above, or two or more together may also iind a useful application in 1other stands or supports differing from the support described above.

While the invention had been illustrated and described as embodied in a fountain pen cap that is convertible to a fountain pen stand, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features -that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

il. A combined fountain pen cap and fountain pen stand comprising, in combination, a cap member having a pair of external surfaces inclined with respect to each other; a clip member having a first clamping portion extending `along one of said surfaces for engaging an edge portion of a pocket or the like when such edge portion is inserted intermediate said first clamping portion and said one surface, sai-d clip member also having a second clamping portion adjacent to the other of said surfaces, said clip member being movable relative to said cap member between a first position in which said second clamping portion is nearer to said other surface of said cap member and a second position in which said second clamping portion is more distant from said other surface of the cap member; and means for biasing said clip member to said first position so that, when said second clamping portion has been moved to said second position against the action of said biasing means, and an object has been inserted between said second clamping portion and said other surface of the cap member, said object will be retained therebetween upon return of said second clamping portion to said hrst position.

2. A combined fountain pen cap and fountain pen stand comprising, ink combination, a cap member having a pair of external surfaces inclined with respect to each other; a clip member having a resilient first clamping portion extending along one of said surfaces in resilient contact therewith for engaging an edge portion of a pocket or the like when such edge portion is inserted intermediate said first clamping portion and said one surface, said clip member also having a second clamping portion adjacent to the other of said surfaces, said clip member being movable relative to said cap member between a first position in which said second clamping portion is nearer to said other surface of said cap member and a second position in which said second clamping portion is more distant from said other Vsurface of the cap member with said first resilient clamping portion resiliently engaging said one surface in either of said positions of said clip member; and means for biasing said clip member to said first position so that, when said second clamping portion has been movedto said second position against the action of said biasing means and an object has been inserted between said second clamping portion and said other surface of the cap member, said object ywill be retained therebetween upon return of said second clamping portion to said first position.

3. A combined fountain pen cap and fountain pen stand comprising, in combination, a cap member having a pair of external surfaces inclined with respect to each other; `a clip member having a resilient rst clamping portion extending along one of said surfaces in resilient contact therewith for engaging an edge portion of a pocket or the like when such edge portion is inserted intermediate said first clamping portion and said one surface, said clip member also having a second clamping portion adjacent to the other of said surfaces, at least said second clamping portion -being movable relative -to said cap member between a first position in which said -second clamping portion is nearer to said other surface of said cap member and a second position'in which said second clamping p0rtion is more distant from said other surface of the cap member with said resilient first clamping portion resiliently engaging said one surface in either of said positions of said clip member; and means for biasing said second clamping portion to said first position so that, when said second clamping portion has been moved to said second position against the action of said biasing means, and an object has been inserted between said second clamping portion and said other surface of the `cap member, said object will be retained therebetween upon return of said second clamping portion to said first position.

4. A combined fountain pen cap and fountain pen stand comprising, in combination, a tubular cap member having a pair of external 'surfaces inclined with respect to each other; a clip member having a rst clamping portion extending along one of said surfaces for engaging an edge portion of a pocket or the like when such edge portion is inserted intermediate said first clamping portion and said one surface, said clip member also having a second clamping portion adjacent to the other of said surfaces, said clip member being movable relative to said cap member between a first position in which said second clamping portion is nearer to said other surface of said cap member and a second position in which said second clamping portion is more distant 'from said other surface of the cap member; and means arranged within said cap member for biasing said clip member to said first position so that, when said second clamping portion has been moved to said second position against the action of said biasing means, and an object has been inserted between said ,second clamping portion and said other surface of said cap member, said object will be retained therebetween upon return lof said second clamping portion to said first position.

5. A combined fountain pen cap and fountain pen stand comprising, in combination, a tubular cap member having a pair of external surfaces inclined with respect to each other; a clip member having a first clamping portion extending along one of said surfaces for engaging an edge portion of a pocket or the like when such edge portion is inserted intermediate said first clamping portion and said one surface, said clip member also having a second cla-mping portion adjacent to the other of said surfaces, said clip member being movable relative to said cap member between a first position in which said second clamping portion is nearer to said other surface of said cap member and a second position in which said second clamping portion is more distant from said other surface ofthe cap member; and means arranged within said cap member and operatively connected with said first clamping portion for biasing said clip member to said first position so that, when said second clamping portion of said clip member has thereby been moved to said second position against the action of said biasing means, and an object has been inserted between said second clamping portion and said other surface of said cap member, said object will be retained therebetween upon return of said second clamping portion to said first position.

6. A combined fountain pen cap and fountain -pen stand comprising, in combination, a tubular cap member having a pair of spaced ends and -a `circumferential Wall therebetween, and an end wall closing one of said ends,4

both of said walls having respective external surfaces extending at an angle for engaging an edge portion of a pocket or the like when such edge portion is inserted in termediate said first clamping portion and said surface of said circumferential wall, said clip member also having a second clamping portion adjacent to said surface of said end wall, said clipmember-being movable 'in axial direction of said cap member between a first position in which said second clamping portion is nearer to said surface of said en-d wall and-a second position in which said `second clamping portion is more distant from said surface of said end wall; and means arranged within said cap member and operatively connected with said first clamping portion for biasing said clip member to said first position so that, when said second clamping portion of s-aid clip member has there-by been moved to said second position against the action of said biasing means, and an object has been inserted between said second clamping portion and said surface of said end wall, said object will be retained therebetween upon return of said second clamping portion to said first position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,468,372 9/ 1923 Bendlin 24S-226.2 1,592,943 7/1926 Holder-man 24-11 1,754,582 4/1930 Spencer 24-11 1,813,396 7/1931 Gordon .24-11 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,240,216 7/ 1960 France.

67,210 7/ 1948 Sweden.

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. LAWRENCE' CHARLES, Examiner. 

1. A COMBINED FOUNTAIN PEN CAP AND FOUNTAIN PEN STAND COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CAP MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF EXTERNAL SURFACES INCLINED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER; A CLIP MEMBER HAVING A FIRST CLAMPING PORTION EXTENDING ALONG ONE OF SAID SURFACES FOR ENGAGING AN EDGE PORTION OF A POCKET OR THE LIKE WHEN SUCH EDGE PORTION IS INSERTED INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST CLAMPING PORTION AND SAID ONE SURFACE, SAID CLIP MEMBER ALSO HAVING A SECOND CLAMPING PORTION ADJACENT TO THE OTHER OF SAID SURFACE, SAID CLIP MEMBER BEING MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID CAP MEMBER BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH SAID SECOND CLAMPING PORTION IS NEARER TO SAID OTHER SURFACE OF SAID CAP MEMBER AND A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH SAID SECOND CLAMPING PORTION IS MORE DISTANT FROM SAID OTHER SURFACE OF THE CAP MEMBER; AND MEANS FOR BIASING SAID CLIP MEMBER TO SAID FIRST POSITION SO THAT, WHEN SAID SECOND CLAMPING PORTION HAS BEEN MOVED TO SAID SECOND POSITION AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID BIASING MEANS, AND AN OBJECT HAS BEEN INSERTED BETWEEN SAID SECOND CLAMPING PORTION AND SAID OTHER SURFACE OF THE CAP MEMBER, SAID OBJECT WILL BE RETAINED THEREBETWEEN UPON RETURN OF SAID SECOND CLAMPING PORTION TO SAID FIRST POSITION. 